The 2017 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 this year, and as it stands, the Tennessee Titans have two first round draft picks. General manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Mularkey currently hold the 5th overall selection and the 18th overall selection.
Though we’ve seen Robinson show a willingness to do a little wheeling and dealing, for now, we’re going to operate as if the Titans are staying put. So, here we are, tackling a new column where I’ll examine the most prominent names popping up on social media and mock drafts in relation to the Titans.
Where do we start? Maybe the name I’ve read most on Titans Facebook: former Clemson wide reciever, Mike Williams.
The Titans have a solid corps of serviceable receivers. Rishard Matthews emerged as the team’s top option, amassing 945 yards and nine touchdowns on 65 catches. Solid numbers from who guy who got a slow start to the season. Matthews didn’t catch his first touchdown until the fifth game. He’s heading into the 2017 season as the Titans most reliable option.
Tajae Sharpe, a rookie fifth round draft pick out of UMass, started the season with a lot of promise, and hit a bit of slump to close the year, posting 58 yards on five catches in the last four games. He finished the season with 41 receptions for 522 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad rookie season, surely, but there’s still room for improvement.
Kendall Wright is gone, which leaves the aging veteran Harry Douglas and project Tre McBride as the heart of the Titans current receiving corps. Are any of those guys going to join the company of Antonio Brown or Julio Jones? Nah, I don’t think so.
Considering the “missing piece” on this Titans offense is a deep threat, true number one wide receiver, the franchise could look to solidify this position with one of its two first round picks.
Enter Williams.
The native of Vance, South Carolina concluded his college football career as a National Champion. What’s more, he showed a lot of gumption in taking down mighty Alabama, posting eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown against the vaunted Crimson Tide defense.
His season totals amount to 98 catches for 1,136 and 11 touchdowns in 15 games. Yeah, he was pretty damn good in 2016. At 6’4″ and 218 pounds, Williams also has the size to be the pure number one receiver the Titans need.
Williams could become a great red zone weapon in the NFL – but that’s an area the Titans are already good at. They led the league in red zone scoring efficiency in 2016, but a presence like Williams’ can only add to that dynamic. Or, maybe if the Titans had a guy like Williams, they’d get more trips to the red zone.
The former Tiger has been referred to as the next Calvin Johnson. If that’s the case, the Titans would be hard-pressed to pass on the kid. That being said, that’s a bit of a lofty pipe dream at this point. There’s still plenty for Williams to improve upon.
Just to be fair to those of you saying the Titans should stay away from Williams, Pro Football Focus says Williams didn’t perform too well against elite college corners.
I’d be okay with his selection at 18 – fifth overall is just a little too high for my liking. I think you can get a good receiver at any point in the first round this year.
So, what do you say, Titans fans? Do you want Williams in two-tone blue?
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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